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Mr Brown had been strangled and dismembered - his body parts removed from the flat over the course of several visits.

Now Scotland Yard has announced a "major development" in the investigation, naming Nathaniel Henry, 37, as a significant suspect linked to the offence by forensic evidence.

He was reported missing by his family on December 12, the force continued.

It said in a statement: "Henry was subsequently found deceased in a location within a residential block in the borough of Southwark near to his home address on December 31 2017. The death was deemed non suspicious."

The scene in Deptford, south London following the death of the pair in a property (Image: SWNS.com)

Work is continuing to establish the facts of the case, which will lead officers to carry out searches at several properties in Southwark and Lewisham from April 30.

The police statement said: "Detectives are actively seeking to piece together the final movements of Nathaniel Henry and ask that anyone with information contact police."

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Officers had previously trawled through 1,000 hours of CCTV footage and issued images of a man seen carrying a distinctive large backpack.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said at the time that the suspect was thought to have visited the flat at least four times as he dismembered Mr Brown's body.

The Metropolitan Police issued a CCTV image of the person they were looking to trace (Image: PA)